CU Buffs beat Texas Southern in 2 OT

No. 19-ranked squad avoid upset with big second half

By Ryan Thorburn Buffzone.com

Posted:
11/28/2012 11:34:54 AM MST

University of Colorado's Askia Booker sinks a three-pointer to give the Buff's a 71-68 lead in the first overtime during a game against Texas Southern on Tuesday, Nov. 27, at the Coors Event Center on the CU campus in Boulder. For more photos of the game go to www.dailycamera.com
(Jeremy Papasso/ Boulder Camera)

BOULDER -- There was a serious upset alert tonight at the Coors Events Center.

After a lot of panic in the crowd and in cyberspace, it turned out to be a false alarm.

No. 19 Colorado overcame a 15-point deficit in the first half, a scare at the end of the second half to improve to 6-0 with an 85-80 double-overtime victory over Texas Southern.

Josh Scott (18 points, 12 rebounds) scored the first five points of the final five-minute period to give the Buffs some breathing room.

The Tigers (1-6) finally ran out of gas and went nearly three minutes without a point down the stretch.

Askia Booker's rainbow 3-pointer as the shot clock expired gave the Buffs a 71-68 lead with 41 seconds left in the first overtime.

But Law Danner-Johnson forced more bonus basketball with a 3-pointer with 11.4 seconds left.

Omar Strong, who finished with 39 points on 13-for-29 shooting, scored seven quick points in the first overtime and gave the Tigers a 66-63 lead with a deep 3-pointer.

Scott answered with a putback and Booker gave CU a 68-66 lead with an old-fashioned three-point play.

Strong was fouled on a 3-pointer and made 2 of 3 free throws to tie the score with 1:15 left.

The Buffs trailed 39-26 with 9.3 seconds left in the first half.

Booker's 3-pointer at the buzzer allowed the home team to carry some momentum into the second half.

CU cranked up the defensive intensity and scored 11 more unanswered points to take a 40-39 lead on a layup by Andre Roberson with 15:36 remaining.

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Texas Southern weathered the storm and took a 50-48 lead on a 3-pointer by Raymond Penn with 9:02 to play.

Spencer Dinwiddie (24 points, 16-for-18 at the free throw line) answered with a big shot from behind the arc on the next possession and gave CU a 56-50 cushion with another 3-pointer.

But Roberson fouled out with 1:30 left and CU clinging to a 59-56 lead.

After Booker missed badly on a 3-pointer, the Tigers tied the score 59-59 with 42 seconds remaining on a basket by Fred Sturdivant.

The Buffs did not get a shot off on their final possession of regulation, and Strong missed a mid-range jumper as the horn sounded.

CU trailed 39-29 at the intermission after allowing Strong to score 20 points (18 on six 3-pointers).

Booker made a deep 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the lethargic home team some energy entering the locker room.

The Tigers shot 50 percent from the field while the Buffs built a brick house (7-for-23, 30.4 percent).

CU was able to stay within striking distance by connecting on 14 of 17 free throws in the first 20 minutes.

The Buffs were sluggish from the start and trailed 9-4 at the first media timeout after allowing Texas Southern to make three wide open 3-pointers.

Strong's fourth 3-pointer extended the Tigers' advantage to 17-8. He was 12-for-43 from 3-point distance entering the game but went 5-for-7 in the first 10:33 in Boulder.

The Tigers led 35-20 after a basket by Aaron Clayborn with 3:24 left in the half before CU was able to claw within 10 points at the break.

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